Digital collaboration solutions are used in the AEC industry to integrate project planning, engineering, budgeting, and document management. Here are some advantages of using digital collaboration in the AEC industry.
The AEC (Architectural, Engineering, and Construction) industry is highly multidisciplinary and needs collaboration for efficient, effective, and timely project delivery. However, the industry is yet to enjoy the maximum benefits that may accrue from this opportunity. Making full use of collaboration can resolve issues owing to its fragmented nature and the resulting challenges.
Cloud-based, mobile-enabled interaction between stakeholders is the need of the hour. The future of construction relies more on technology and changing building and infrastructure needs. The need for digital collaboration and connectivity will only grow.
When working in collaboration, AEC professionals – architects, engineers, and contractors, use their expertise in the three distinct disciplines to work together to complete a project. With collaboration, the pros seamlessly integrate their areas of specialisation to manage projects and achieve a common goal more efficiently and effectively.
Digital collaboration solutions are being deployed in the AEC industry to integrate project planning, engineering, physical control, budgeting, and document management. The cloud-based, mobile-enabled platforms leverage IT technologies to digitalise work processes, collaboration, and connectivity between architects, engineers, and contractors.
Current trends of collaboration in the AEC industry
A major problem faced by the AEC industry is most professionals and processes in the sector are non-collaborative. It is critical to share status updates on a project, such as where the project is, where it should be, and how we get there. The information must be communicated with all stakeholders in real-time for better project delivery. But, the information transfer relies on slow modes of communication such as telephones, fax machines, and paper drawings and blueprints. Also, due to a lack of technological competence, blueprints, design drawings, procurement, orders, equipment records, and daily progress reports are still managed on paper.
Companies must utilise modern IT tools to facilitate communications, foster collaboration between teams, and advance the industry. Firms adopting these technologies are equipped with intelligent tools and efficiently lead streamlining projects across onsite or offsite teams. Digital advances have much to offer and motivate the AEC industry.
Features of Digital collaboration in the AEC industry
Connectivity
In the AEC industry, the focus is shifting to sharing information and project teams’ increasing ability to work together. Efficient collaboration is more than information – It connects professionals from project teams and resolves their need to work in a shared space in real time so that decisions, updates, and communications are simultaneously and instantly applied, flagged, and tracked.
The AEC industry is replacing traditional communication methods with cloud-enabled processes to diminish communication barriers. And to connect data, systems, projects, and teams so that everything and everyone can be in constant communication, with instant access to the latest files, designs and project activity. The technology enables teams to connect anytime and from any location – helping to minimise downtime and reduce rework.
Project delivery
Construction project delivery faces many hurdles. The impact on timeframes, finances, safety, risk, and quality have numerous nuances. Another major cause for slow project delivery is that blueprints, drawings, procurement, supply-chain orders, equipment records, daily progress reports, and punch lists are still managed on paper.
Project delivery needs to become increasingly collaborative, leading to new ways of working together to combat these obstacles. As collaborative project delivery types become standard practice and evolve, so must the technology supporting these teams. Collaborative project delivery types such as Design-Build, Joint Ventures, Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), and Teaming Agreements are gaining importance.
Peer to Peer exchange
Collaborative design and engineering is about connecting the dots, taking all of the individual contributions and connecting them into a unified, functional finished product.
However, in AEC design, the size of a collaboration team is relatively large, as is the degree of collaboration with external organisations. Furthermore, design team members are frequently dispersed geographically, and members such as planners and experts are often loosely bound to the project. So, the variety of connectivity platforms and applications used by team members – emails, messengers, calls, cloud – becomes potentially overwhelming.
A commonplace designed for peer exchanges, such as a open forums, can be highly beneficial for AEC Collaboration. India Nirmaan is a community for AEC professionals to connect, converse and collaborate. The community gets together to focus on the project’s unique need. Digital collaborations enhances projects for a well-coordinated, smooth, efficient, and hassle-free project delivery.
When it comes to bringing new voices to the AEC industry, it remains to be a perennial challenge to make them heard. There is a historic divide between general contractors and architects. For project efficiency, the gap needs to be bridged. Better collaboration is a way to get there, and technology is a tool to help us achieve that.
